The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. Candidates sitting for various UPSC exams should learn about the role of the Union Public Service Commission. Also, the role and importance of UPSC will make candidates more aware and responsible. It will instill a sense of seriousness and increase motivation to study for Civil Services. Students will be able to better understand the field in which they want to enter. We are going to tell you everything about UPSC starting from the role and importance of UPSC to its limitations.
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What is UPSC?
The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. Many folks confuse it as an exam. Rather, it’s a constitutional body that is also the central agency that conducts UPSC exams to three types of Central Services in India. These are the
- All India Services
- Group A and
- Group B Central Services
The UPSC conducts Civil Services Exam in three stages – Preliminary, Mains, and Interview stage. Furthermore, allow us to make you understand the origin of the Union Public Service Commission and also about the UPSC exam. It will also help you to polish your knowledge about UPSC.
Origin of Union Public Service Commission
The Union Public Service Commission in India was first introduced within the Indian Constitutional Reforms on the 5th of March, 1919. It was meant to oversee the proper functioning of matters related to the working of the officers. But, it was later in 1926 that the Public Service Commission was founded in India as a statutory body.
The body consisted of 4 members including the Chairman. After the establishment of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950, the commission ultimately came to be known as Union Public Service Commission.
History of Civil Services
The British had introduced new posts of Civil Servants for the East India Company. They were nominated by the administrators of the company and then trained at Haileybury College of London. After the training, they were sent back to India. Later in 1854, there was the introduction of a merit-based system through competitive examinations. So, a Civil Service Commission was set up and exams were held from 1855. The foremost Indian to clear the Civil Services was Satyendranath Tagore. Soon after World War I and Montagu Chelmsford Reforms, the exam was conducted in India in 1922. Later, Police services, Forest services, etc. also gained momentum.
The current Indian Administrative services is built on the earlier Civil Services introduced by British Raj. Warren Hastings had laid down the base and Charles Cornwallis modernized it. He’s “the Father of Civil Service in India”.
Composition of UPSC
Generally, Union Public Service Commission consists of a Chairman and 9 to 10 other members. The President of India appoints them and therefore the strength of the UPSC has not been specified by the constitution. So, it is in hands of the President to choose the members as well as determine the conditions of service. Also, at least one-half of the UPSC members should have held office under the Centre or State for a minimum of 10 years.
Members
A chairman along with other members form the UPSC body which is answerable for various matters associated with the proper functioning of the government services.
Term
The Chairman and also the members hold office for six years or up to 65 years of age, whichever is attained earlier. But, they are able to resign at any point of time by addressing the President.
Expulsion
The President can remove the members or the chairman before the expiration of their term if he/she finds it necessary to take such a step. The Constitution has provisions for it. Further, after the expulsion of the Chairman, the president can appoint an acting chairman from the members until the next one is appointed.
Types of Exams conducted by UPSC
The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. The UPSC conducts different UPSC exams such as Civil Services, Forest and Engineering Services, Defence Services, Combined Medical and Special Railway Exams, Geoscientist/Geologist, Armed Police Forces, etc. Let us further know everything about UPSC.
Provisions
There are certain provisions for the UPSC within the constitution of India. Besides powers, there are functions and duties of the UPSC.
| Article-315 – Public Service Commissions for both the Union and for the States. | |||
| Article-316 – Appointment and term of office of members. | |||
| Article-317 – Removal and Suspension of a member of a Public Service Commission. | |||
| Article-318 – Power to make regulations as to conditions of service of both members and staff of the Commission. | |||
| Article-319 – Prohibition as to the holding of offices by members of Commission on ceasing to be such members. | |||
| Article-320 – Functions of Public Service Commissions. | |||
| Article-321 – Power to extend functions of Public Service Commissions. | |||
| Article-322 – Expenses of Public Service Commissions. | |||
| Article-323 – Reports of Public Service Commissions. | |||
Powers and functions – Role And Importance of UPSC
The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. UPSC functions with autonomy and under article 320 of the constitution, it has many functions. Besides, The UPSC is consulted on matters relating to different UPSC exams and recruitments to the posts under the Centre and State. The role and importance of UPSC can be seen in the following –
Conducting examinations
The UPSC is responsible for conducting UPSC exams also called UPSC-CSE to the Central Services. Every year, lakhs of students appear in this exam to become IAS/IPS/IFS officers. Also, the UPSC releases notification every year and candidates can apple for the exam online. Admit cards are later available on the official website of UPSC.
Appointment
UPSC appoints various officers through promotion or deputation in different areas of the country. The work is scrutinized and officers are allotted promotion on the basis of their performance. For example, if you perform exceptionally well, you will be awarded promotions without delay and will be able to reach a higher position soon in your career.
Recruitment rules
The UPSC proposes and amends rules for various services under the Government of India. Moreover, it has the authority to take action on recruitment rules and establish them for better functioning of the hiring process.
Lateral entry
The UPSC has the authority to appoint officers through interviews. This is a method of direct selection. For instance, officers just have to sit for the interview and not any physical examination.
Disciplinary action
UPSC has the power to take action when the staff does not work according to the rules. UPSC thus acts as a governing body and a caretaker of the government by maintaining discipline.
Advisory role
When the President of India asks the UPSC to provide advice to the government, it fulfills the role of an advisor too. Because certain matters need special brainstorming, the Union Public Service Commission offers assistance in solving those matters.
Role of UPSC
- According to Article 315 of the Indian Constitution, the UPSC is to conduct exams to appoint candidates to different Central Services.
- The UPSC also assists the States to implement plans and schemes. It further advises and supports services requiring a special recruitment process.
- The UPSC also acts in accordance with the Governor of any State with the consent of the President of India.
- The UPSC provides consultation regarding legal matters, interim appointments exceeding one year as well as personnel management, etc. But, these consultations are advisory and not binding in nature.
Annual Report
The Union Public Service Commission submits an annual work report to the President of India. The report contains everything about their work, UPSC examination procedure, and also the success rate of students based on medium and gender. The purpose of the report is to show a transparent picture of the statistics to the public. The President presents the report before the parliament along with a memo that talks about the cases where UPSC’s advice was not accepted along with reasons for the same.
Limitations of UPSC
Despite the powers, there are some matters which are outside the jurisdiction of the UPSC. These are:
- Reservation of posts for backward classes
- Another limitation is considering the claims of SCs and STs about appointments to various services.
- Selections for chairmanship or membership of Commissions/higher diplomatic posts and Group C and Group D services.
- Matters relating to temporary posting for less than a year.
One important aspect of the limitations of UPSC is that the President can exclude matters from the reach of UPSC. The Indian constitution allows the President to do so.
Why is UPSC important?
The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. You can only enter the administrative services through the exam conducted by UPSC. So, UPSC plays an important role in recruiting the best candidates as leaders of the country. UPSC also advises, solves issues, and maintains transparency in the government. It also helps the state governments in times of crisis. UPSC thus plays a central role in the working of the government. As students, you must know about history as well as the making of UPSC. During the interview, you may be asked about UPSC. So, it is always safe to know and understand how the entire system works. Furthermore, there is no harm in having extra knowledge. It will further add to your current awareness.
Also, UPSC has appointed Central Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities. This was done to provide details to public under RTI Act.
FAQs on Everything about UPSC exam
The most common and important role of UPSC is to conduct examination for recruitment into 3 three types fo Central Services – All India Services, Group A, and Group B services. Apart from this, UPSC is involved in managing appointments, maintaining discipline in government services, and preparing an annual report. This report is open for public display to allow for a clear picture of the government.
The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. You can enter various government posts through examinations conducted by UPSC. The exam takes about a year starting from Prelims to Mains to the Interview stage. You can become IAS/IPS/IFS officers based on your rank. Usually, the top 100 get into Indian Administrative Services. It is followed by the Indian Police Service and then the Indian Foreign Service. There are other services too. You can look them up on the official website of UPSC too.
The UPSC exam is considered the toughest exam in the country because it requires hard work as well as smart work in the face of a few posts. One has to study many books, read newspapers, magazines, etc. Moreover, regular mock tests are a must. So, the whole journey is of 1-1.5 years and the exam itself takes up to a year.
The UPSC-CSE exam includes a general grasp of all subjects because the duties of a civil servant require an all-round knowledge. You can read more about the toughest exam in India on our website. Also, read about how to prepare for this exam at home.
COVID-19 Update | Role and Importance of UPSC
The Covid-19 pandemic has had drastic effects on everybody’s career. Many exams have been postponed. One of the exams is UPSC-CSE. The dates for prelims, mains, and the interview has been shifted to a later date. In times like these, students should utilize this as an opportunity to study and revise. Candidates should not think of the situation as an escape from reality. Rather, they should invest their time in studying and making the most of it.
